Folding box.



I PATENTED FEB. 2 1905. W. H. THOMPSON.

FOLDING BOX.

APPLICATION TILED JUNE 10,1903.

UNITED STATES Patented February 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON, OF MORRISTOVVN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN S. W. THOMPSON, OF MORRISTOVVN, NE

JERSEY.

FOLDING BOX.

SPECIFICATION f g pa f Letters Patent 783,805, dated; February 28, 1905.

Application filed June 10, 1903. Serial No. 160,823.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVIorristown, county of lflorris, and State of New Jersey. have invented certain new anduseful Impr ements in Folding Boxes, fully describe X and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention aims to provide an improved folding box, and especially to provide an improved lock for the folded ends or sides of such boxes.

By my invention a box is provided which is easily set up and knocked down, which is strong and rigid when set up, is of attractive appearance, having its exposed sides and ends unbroken and having no projecting parts on the inside liable to be engaged by articles packed in'the box or to interfere with the use of the box, and the blank for which cuts to advantage without waste of material.

A full understanding of the invention can best be given by a detailed description of a preferred form of box embodying the various features of the invention, and such a description 'Will now be given in connection-with the accompanying drawings. 7

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of an unfolded blank cut-and scored in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is'a perspective'view of the box set up. Fig. 3 is a broken perspective view of one end of the box partly set up.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Fig.

1, the blank, which may be formed of paperboard or other suitable sheet material, comprises a bottom section a and sides Z) 7)- and c 0, extending from the edges of the bottom section and separated therefrom by score-lines, as usual. Extending from the ends of the sides I) b are end flaps CZ (Z and e c, and extending from the sides 0 c are flaps ff, adapted to fold inwardly and downwardly inside the box. For providing the box with a hinged cover formed in one piecewith the body of the box, a cover-section g may be provided, extending from the outer or upper edge of one of the sides 6, this cover-section being of a size and form corresponding with the bottom of the box and preferably being provided with edge tucks h it and i.

One of the flaps d d is cut to form an'upwardly-pointing tongue 70, the free end of which is near that edge of the flap which is at the top when the box is set up, and this tongue does not extend entirely to said top edge of the flap, but the top portion of the flap is left uncut to form a connecting-strip Z above the upper end of the tongue. The other flap (Z is formed with an opening on, preferably corre sponding to the size and position of the tongue k. This-opening is preferably of the form shown corresponding to the form of the tongue k, so that when the end flaps (Z cl are brought together to form the end of the box, as shown in Fig. 3, the tonguek maybe readily forced inward through the openingm and by projecting through said opening will securely lock the flaps rZ (Z together, and one or both of the edges of the opening are preferably formed with slight inward projections or ears m m, which when the tongue 7:; is pressed through the opening will snap. back ofthe tongue, as shown inFig. 3, and thereby securely hold the inner flap (Z in position against the end of the box. Evidently projections might be formed on the side edges of the tongue to snap back of the edges of the opening..- It will be understood, however, that the opening an need not in all cases correspond to the form of the tongue 2",; but the lower portion of the opening should be of such a width or so positioned that when the tongue 7: is projected through the opening the flaps (Z (Z will thereby be locked together. The opening 'm also preferably does not extend quite to the top edge of the flap (Z, but a connecting-piece 72 is left corresponding to the connecting-piece Z. By formingthe tongue 7 and opening on; so as toleave these connecting-strips l m the weakening of the flaps (Z d, which would result from extending the tongue and opening clear to the upper edge of the flaps, is avoided and amuch more secure and rigid box is secured. The flaps a e are similarly provided, one witha tongue Z1 and the other with an opening 717,.

Each of the flaps f is formed with a slit 0, extending preferably substantially horizontally and in position to receive the end of the tongue Z1 whenthe box is set up, as shown in Fig. 2.

To set the box up, the sides 6 t are turned upwardly and the flaps d I] and the flaps e a are turned inwardly to overlap, as shown in Fig. 3, the flap having the opening m being on the inside. The tongue 76 of the outer flap is then bent inward and projected through the opening m, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby secu rely locking the overlapping end flaps together. The sides 0 c are then bent upwardly against the overlapping end flaps and the flaps f f turned over and downward inside the overlapping end flaps, and the ends of the inwardly-projecting tongues Kc are tucked inward through the slits 0 of the flapsf, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby securely locking the sides 0 and the overlapping end flaps together and forming a secure fastening for holding the box rigidly in its set-up position.

Instead of providing the box with a folding cover extending from the edge of one of the sides I) the box, as shown in full lines, may be employed in connection with a similar part of slightly-larger size or with any suitable part for forming a telescopebox.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to a box of the exact form or proportions shown, but that the construction shown may be varied as desired, according to the form and size of the box and the material of which it is made.- While a single tongue 71' and opening m and slit 0 will generally be found suflicient for forminga secure lock, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the use of a single tongue, opening, and slit for locking up aside of the box.

What is claimed is 1. A box having a wall formed of parts extending from adjacent walls, a tongue formed in one of said parts, an opening in another of said parts through which said tongue is adapted to be bent fiatwise and thereby lock said two parts together, anda locking-flap extending from another of said parts and adapted to fold over and down against the parts having the tongue and the opening and inside the tongue, said flap having a slit through which the end of said tongue is adapted to be tucked inside the locking-flap, substantially as described.

2. A folding box having flaps extending from the ends of opposite sides and adapted to fold and overlap against a third side of the box, the one of said flaps lying next to said third side of the box being formed with an upwardly-pointing tongue and the other of said flaps being formed with an opening through which said tongue may be bent flatwise, the lower portion ofsaid opening being formed to bear against said tongue for locking said zontal slit through which the upper end of said tongue is adaptedto be tucked inside the locking-flap, substantially as described.

3. A folding box having flaps extending from the ends of opposite sides and adapted to fold and overlap against a third side of the box, the one of said flaps lying next to said third side of the box being formed with an upwardly-pointing. tongue and the other of said flaps being formed with an opening through which said tongue may be bent flatwise, said flaps having uncut upper portions, a lockingfiap extending upwardly from said third side of the box and adapted to turn over and downwardly against said flap having the opening and inside the tongue and formed with-a substantially horizontal slit through which the upper end of said tongue is adapted to be tucked inside the lockingflap, substantially as described.

4. A folding box comprising a bottom portion, sides extending upward from the bottom portion, flaps extending from opposite edges of opposed sides and adapted to fold and overlap against the adjacent sides, one flap of each pair being provided with an upwardly-pointing tongue and the other flap of each pair being formed with-an opening through which said tongue may be bent flatwise, locking-flaps extending from the tops of the last-mentioned sides adapted to turn over and downward against said overlapping flaps and inside the tongues and formed with a slit through which the upper ends ofsaid tongues are adapted to be tucked inside the locking-flaps, substantially as described.

5. A folding box comprisinga bottom portion and sides extending upward from the bottom portion, flaps extending from opposite edges of opposed sides and adapted to fold and overlap against the adjacent sides, one flap of each pair being formed with an upwardlypointing tongue, and the other flap of each pair being formed with an opening through which the tongue may be bent flatwise, and said flaps having uncut upper portions, and locking-flaps extending from the tops of the last-mentioned sides adapted to turn over and downward against said overlapping flaps and inside the tongues and formed with a slit through which the upper ends of said tongues are adapted to be tucked inside the locking-flaps, substantially as described.

6. A folding box comprisinga bottom portion and sides extending upward from the bottomv portion, flaps extending from opposite edges of opposed sides andadapted to fold and overlap against'adjacent sides, one. flap of each pair being formed with an upwardlypointing tongue, and the other flap of each IIO pair being formed with an opening through which said tongue may be bent flatwise, and said flaps having uncut upper portions, locking-flaps extending from the tops of the lastmentioned sides adapted to turn over and downward against said overlapping flaps inside the tongues and formed with a slit through which the upper ends of said tongues are adapted to be tucked inside the locking-flaps, and a cover extending from the top edge of one of said opposed sides having tucks l2 l1. and f, substantially as described.

7. A folding box having a wall formed of parts extending from adjacent walls, one of said parts being formed with a-tongue, another of said parts being formed with an opening through which said tongue is adapted to be bent flatwise and thereby lock said two parts'together, the edge of the opening being provided with a projection adapted to snap back of the tongue when the tongue is pressed through the opening, and a locking-flap exupon the application of ing correction, as follows:

before the word flap with this correction therein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day [sEAL] in Letters Patent No. 783,805.

tending from another of said parts and adapted to fold over and down against the parts ha\-'ing the tongue and the opening, said flap having a slit for receiving the end of said tongue, substantially as described.

8. The combination of two parts of a folding box. one of said parts being formed with a tongue, another of said parts being formed with an opening through which said tongue is adapted to be bent fiatwise and thereby lock said two parts together, side edges of said tongue and said opening being formed to snap one back of the other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM H. THOMPSON.

\Vitnesses:

A. L. KENT,

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 783, William H. Thompson, I

or appears in the printed specification requirand the hyphen erted Patent should be read improvement in Folding Boxes, an err In line 66, page 2, the word locking before the Word flaps should be stricken out, and the word locking should be ins in said line; and that the said Letters 'l. F. Keno of Morristown, New Jersey, for

of October, A. D., 1905.

F. I. ALLEN,

805, granted February 28, 1905, p

that the same may conform to the record of the case in Commissioner of Patents.

pair being formed with an opening through which said tongue may be bent flatwise, and said flaps having uncut upper portions, locking-flaps extending from the tops of the lastmentioned sides adapted to turn over and downward against said overlapping flaps inside the tongues and formed with a slit through which the upper ends of said tongues are adapted to be tucked inside the locking-flaps, and a cover extending from the top edge of one of said opposed sides having tucks l2 l1. and f, substantially as described.

7. A folding box having a wall formed of parts extending from adjacent walls, one of said parts being formed with a-tongue, another of said parts being formed with an opening through which said tongue is adapted to be bent flatwise and thereby lock said two parts'together, the edge of the opening being provided with a projection adapted to snap back of the tongue when the tongue is pressed through the opening, and a locking-flap exupon the application of ing correction, as follows:

before the word flap with this correction therein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day [sEAL] in Letters Patent No. 783,805.

tending from another of said parts and adapted to fold over and down against the parts ha\-'ing the tongue and the opening, said flap having a slit for receiving the end of said tongue, substantially as described.

8. The combination of two parts of a folding box. one of said parts being formed with a tongue, another of said parts being formed with an opening through which said tongue is adapted to be bent fiatwise and thereby lock said two parts together, side edges of said tongue and said opening being formed to snap one back of the other, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

\VILLIAM H. THOMPSON.

\Vitnesses:

A. L. KENT,

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 783, William H. Thompson,

improvement in Folding Boxes, an err In line 66, page 2, the word locking before the Word flaps should be stricken out, and the word locking should be ins in said line; and that the said Letters that the same may conform to the record of the cars 'l. F. Keno of Morristown, New Jersey, for

of October, A. D., 1905.

F. I. ALLEN,

805, granted February 28, 1905, p

or appears in the printed specification requirand the hyphen erted Patent should be read ein Commissioner of Patents.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 783,805.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 783,805, granted February 28, 1905, upon the application of William H. Thompson, of Morristown. New Jersey, for an improvement in Folding Boxes, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows: In line 66, page 2, the word locking and the hyphen before the word flaps should he stricken out, and the word locking should be inserted before the word flap in said line; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 17th day of October, A. D., 190-").

[SEAL] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner 0 f Patenis. 

